Liverpool's French striker Hugo Ekitike is reaping the rewards of a dedicated fitness regime, according to manager Arne Slot. The 23-year-old has found a rich vein of form, scoring five goals in his last four matches across all competitions.
From Struggle to Success: Ekitike's Anfield Journey
Ekitike made a bright start after his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring on his first three appearances. However, his momentum was interrupted by the club's British record £125 million signing of Alexander Isak. The Frenchman managed only three goals in the subsequent 17 games as he adapted to the relentless pace of English football.
The landscape has shifted dramatically. With Isak now facing a lengthy injury layoff of several months and star forward Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool's attacking hopes have fallen squarely on Ekitike's shoulders. The striker has responded emphatically to the call.
Slot's Convincing Argument for Physical Gains
Manager Arne Slot believes the key to Ekitike's resurgence is a significantly improved physical condition. The Dutch tactician revealed he had to personally convince the player of the necessity of extra work. "It sometimes took us –- me –- a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger," Slot admitted ahead of Liverpool's Saturday clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Slot praised Ekitike's commitment, stating, "He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where he is at the moment... he has worked really hard to get fitter on and off the pitch." The manager also linked defensive diligence to attacking success, explaining his philosophy that better set-piece defending creates more scoring opportunities at the other end.
Liverpool's Season: A Tale of Two Runs
The reigning champions' campaign has been a rollercoaster. They are currently on an unbeaten run of six games in all competitions. This positive streak comes after a disastrous period where they suffered nine defeats in 12 matches, a sequence that effectively ended their title challenge this season.
Liverpool now sit fifth in the Premier League table, though they remain 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. Slot insists the gap in performance between their good and bad runs isn't as vast as it appears. He pointed to a tighter defence as the main change, noting his team has conceded far fewer chances recently.
"I also think we have been a bit more lucky than in the games before," Slot added, reflecting on narrow wins over Tottenham and Brighton. He argued that during their poor run, the team was often unlucky to lose games they dominated, whereas recent victories have come in more evenly-matched contests.
